Boston Bruins draft pick Tyler Seguin aware of team's strong fan base

The Associated PressThe Boston Bruins take Tyler Seguin of Canada as the second pick in the first round of the NHL National Hockey League draft at Staples Center in Los Angeles Friday, June 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

The Bruins took Tyler Seguin with the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

In the Kessel deal, Boston got the Maple Leafs’ first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, including their second-round pick in 2010 – which turned out to be Seguin.

But the deal didn’t pay off immediately.

The Bruins finished last in the league in scoring and failed to advance beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals. However, the consolation was that the Leafs finished with the second-worst point total in the overall NHL standings this season, poor enough for the second overall pick in the draft.

Welcome to Boston Tyler Seguin, a center with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers.

“From meeting them, as well as visiting Boston, you can tell by the people that are there already it’s just a phenomenal place to play,” Seguin told reporters in Los Angeles. “There’s so much history there with the Bruins, and an incredible fan base, the atmosphere. It’s a hockey town.”

Kessel had led the Bruins with 36 goals in 2008-09, but as a restricted free agent was unable to come to terms on a contract extension and was eventually traded to Toronto.

Seguin has starred with Plymouth the last two seasons, including last season when he posted 48-58-106 offensive totals in 63 games. He expects to challenge for a job in the Boston when he reports for his first training camp this fall.

“That’s my goal,” he said. “I’m very confident in my skills. After talking to the Bruins, I think I can come in and hopefully earn a spot.”

Edmonton selected OHL winger Taylor Hall with the first overall selection, ending months of debate of who would go first, Hall and Seguin. Seguin had been ranked No. 1 in the final Central Scouting Service ratings ahead of Hall.

“I wasn’t surprised or disappointed,” Seguin said of being picked second. “I just came in here really with an open mind. I didn’t have any expectations. I think everyone has their own opinion. ... Edmonton decided to select Hall first overall, and good for him. He deserves it. And I’m happy to be a Bruin.”

Chiarelli and the Bruins were disappointed either.

“I think Tyler has a lot of potential,” Chiarelli told TSN. “There’s a lot of things that we like that aren’t out of the ordinary. Like he’s a tremendous shot, creativity and he’s got a lot of things going for him. He’s a good kid, comes from a good family and we’re excited to have him.”

Seguin joins a Bruins club that is already deep at the center position with Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Barring a trade, Seguin might have to make a position change in the NHL. He thinks he can make the transition.

“I’ve always played center. But when I came into my OHL career as a rookie, I had to adjust to wing because I was playing with better players, and I was more of a playmaker that year,” he said. “This past year the better players ended up leaving the team, they were older, so I got moved to center, and turned out to be more of a goal scorer.

“I’m a pretty diverse player, and I want to step into a team or organization like the Bruins and play any role.”